This fairing will make you go much faster. Greater handling skill is required, particularly in crosswinds.
(for the Lightning P-38 & Stealth, Rans V-Rex, & other SWB bikes)
Super
Zzipper on P-38
Details of the Fairing Mounting System
V-Rex Pictures of the Treklite Super Zzipper.
The Treklite Super Zzipper for short wheel base bikes and some trikes.
It starts with a Super Zzipper from Zzip Designs that is custom made to my specifications. It is deeper than a regular Zzipper, and the sides are fuller.
To this I add a mounting system of my design that secures to the frame with worm gear clamps. The mounting system has telescoping tubes for adjustment. The tubes are locked in place with Velcro. Between all the attachment and adjustment points there is either Velcro or reinforced vinyl. This forms a resilient mounting system that damps much of the vibration, providing a relatively quiet ride.
The Lexan bubble is attached to the mountings with more Velcro, so it is easy to set the height of the fairing and to change the angle, and all sorts of adjustments. You make the macro adjustments by how you set up the tubing, and at what point you Velcro the front of the fairing to the front mount. You make the micro adjustments (about 4") to the top with the Velcro attachment points that are within easy reach, so with a little practice you can change from looking through the fairing to over the fairing with one hand.
Taking the fairing off is about a 2 minute procedure involving releasing two Velcro straps and releasing the inner tubes from the outer tubes. The bike is then left with two 6" tubes that are clamped to the bike. One sticks out front secured to the bottom bracket, (the front of this tube should be covered, a tennis ball, or the velcro is ideal when riding without the fairing.) the other sticks up from the front tube in front of the head tube. Nothing touches the derailleur tube. Putting the fairing on these mounts takes about 3 minutes.
The sides and back are made of fabric. The first 18" is a very porous stretch material the main middle section is nylon pack cloth, and then the last 18 inches is the stretch material again. The sides Velcro to the Lexan and then stretch behind the seat or to the end of the rear fender if you have a rigid one.
Drawn into the pictures are reflective stripes on the front, sides and back that are now standard on the products.
The fairing is open at the bottom so that you can put your feet down and the top is also open. This allows good ventilation making it comfortable into the 80's.
Getting in and out involves pulling the Velcro side down to a movable stop (you set it in the position you want, lower makes stepping in and out easier, higher makes attaching the Velcro easier.) I have my stop set to my seat bottom height. Then I put one foot outside the fabric before standing up and stepping out with my other foot.
I'm getting about 10% speed improvement from the bubble, and another 10% from the sides.
You may be interested in an article about adjusting the Treklite fairing to fit the weather and your ride.
Lexan Bubble (Super Zzipper from Zzip Designs) -------- $175--- 2.5 lbs.
Treklite Aluminum/Velcro mounting system -------------- $150 --- 1.5 lbs.
Treklite Body Sock ----------------------------------------------- $150 --- 1 lb.
Bent-Stuff Treklite Products Treklite Home Page
Treklite Inc., 904 Dorothea Dr., Raleigh, NC 27603 (919)828-6068 E-mail Joseph@Treklite.com